Glass Brew Mug by Teas Etc (review)

Name: Glass Brew Mug (click on link at right to view on Teas Etc’s site)

Brand: Teas Etc

Type: Teaware

Cost: $14.95

Podcast: Listen to my podcast interview with Teas Etc founder and co-owner, Beth Johnston.

Review: I do love well-designed teaware, and anything that makes drinking loose leaf tea more enjoyable gets a big gold star from me. Teas Etc was kind enough to send me their Glass Brew Mug at the end of February, and I’ve used it practically every day since!

This nifty mug has several advantages for loose-leaf tea drinkers:

• It is made from glass, which doesn’t affect the taste of tea and allows the user to watch the leaves unfurl.
• The infuser basket has very small openings, preventing too much silt from getting into the infused tea.
• The infuser basket is also quite roomy, so even large leaf teas will have room to expand.
• The lid is a nifty addition: It serves as a rest for the infuser basket, and if you need to step away from your tea for a bit, it keeps heat in and dust/insects out.
• Multiple infusions are a breeze with this brew mug. Just put the infuser basket in the cup each time you make a fresh cup.
• Like cold brew iced tea? Just add tea leaf and cold water, cover and place in the fridge. No muss, no fuss.

Are there any downsides to the Glass Brew Mug?

Actually, there are: The mug works by placing the glass infuser into the mug, then adding tea leaf and hot water. When the tea is infused, you need to remove the lid, place it  bottom side up on your table or desk, lift the infuser, let it drain, and then place it in the upturned lid.

The trouble is that both the lid and infuser are hot, and you may have a fair amount of hot steam rising from the glass. This can result in burns and in dropping the somewhat-fragile glass while screaming “ow, ow, OW!”.  After some trial and error, I have the following tips for minimizing burn/breakage risks:

• Try using the brew mug for teas made with cooler water. I’ve had the most problems when brewing black teas with boiling water. The cooler teas are a lot more manageable.
• Don’t completely fill the cup with hot water. Instead, fill to the bottom of the infuser rim. This leaves the rim fairly cool, allowing you to pick it up without injury.
• Pick the infuser basket up from the side, rather than the top. Don’t allow the palm of your hand to be above the cup: That is how you get a steam burn.

Pros: Leaves have plenty of room to unfurl in the large and roomy infuser basket. Light, elegant glass feels good to hold. Lid is a convenient rest for the infuser basket, keeps tea hot, and protects tea from contamination.

Cons: The lid and infuser rim can get very hot, and this can result in an urge to drop the infuser or lid to avoid a burn.

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Sample Provided by Manufacturer: Yes

Tagged as: glass brew mug, glass tea ware, tea, tea infuser, Teas Etc, Teaware